Reflecting the uncertain reality of the ongoing war in Ukraine, this cinematic diary of the Maksimenko family's struggle for survival reveals the profound impact of conflict on ordinary lives. Through a mesmerising interplay of visual storytelling and sonic improvisation on percussion instruments, the film probes themes of home, displacement, resilience, and the enduring bonds of family in the face of war's brutal disruption.
In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, visual artist and filmmaker Alina Maksimenko finds herself alone in Irpin, a town near Kyiv, recovering from surgery with her leg in a cast. As bombs rain down and the city becomes increasingly isolated, she narrowly escapes with her cat in one of the last evacuation groups. She travels to a nearby village where her parents, Tetiana and Anatoli, are stuck.
At first, the family attempted to maintain a semblance of normalcy amid the escalating conflict. Tetiana continues teaching music lessons online, Anatoli cares for his many cats and the pets of neighbours who have fled, and Alina documents their lives and the surrounding events with her camera. However, as the front line draws closer, Alina captures the growing tension and the increasingly strained relationships as the family faces a heart-wrenching dilemma: to stay or to flee.
World premiere at the International competition of Visions du Réel (2024), Polish at Polish and Debut Films competitions of Millennium Docs Against Gravity (2024). EFA Nominations for Best Film and Best Documentary, Doc Alliance Award 2024 nomination, DMZ Docs International Documentary Film Festival (Grand Prize), Budapest International Documentary Festival (Special Mention)
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